His prospects would have certainly been enhanced had the Minstermen held on to the 24th-minute lead, given to them courtesy of Macaulay Langstaff’s third goal of the season.

But Mike McGrath replied in the 65th minute to ensure Hereford avoided a third straight defeat.

Guiseley extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 1-1 home draw with Chester.

The Lions’ latest game without defeat also felt like two points lost after former Halifax defender Scott Garner’s 88th-minute header had opened the scoring. But fellow centre-back Jon Moran also used his head to level in stoppage time.

Kaine Felix might still have grabbed victory for Guiseley, only for defender Simon Grand to block his goalbound effort.

Bradford Park Avenue missed out on moving up to second after Kurt Willoughby’s stoppage-time penalty earned hosts FC United of Manchester a 2-2 draw.

Close-range efforts from captain Shane Killock and Jake Beesley had put Avenue in front, but Brodie Litchfield reduced the deficit before Willoughby converted from the spot.